Sci-Fi Channel Makes
Largest Programming Acquisition in History of Network
With MGM Worldwide Television Group for "The Outer
Limits," "Stargate SG-1" and
"Poltergeist: The Legacy"

Writer:

N/A

Press Release:

Los Angeles (Business Wire)

Release
Date:

March 30, 1998

Copyright:

N/A

Deal Includes 22 New
Original Episodes of "Poltergeist: The Legacy"

Sci-Fi Channel and MGM
Worldwide Television Group, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Inc. (NYSE:MGM), have completed a deal that grants the
network exclusive basic-cable rights to three acclaimed
sci-fi series -- "The Outer Limits,"
"Stargate SG-1," and "Poltergeist: The
Legacy."

Additionally, 22 original
new episodes of "Poltergeist: The Legacy" will
be produced exclusively for Sci-Fi Channel to begin
airing first quarter 1999. The exclusive acquisition of
"The Outer Limits" and "Stargate
SG-1" includes 132 episodes, each available in
September 1999 and September 2002, respectively.

MGM will begin production
on the fourth season of "Poltergeist: The
Legacy" for Sci-Fi Channel this year. With the
additional 22 episodes, there will be a total of 88
"Poltergeist: The Legacy" episodes for future
Monday through Friday strip usage.

"This is the
single-largest programming acquisition made in Sci-Fi
Channel's five-and-a-half year history," said Kay
Koplovitz, founder, chairman and chief executive officer
of USA Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:USAI). "These three
current, well-produced series will strengthen our
schedule by giving it a fresher, more contemporary look
and serve to complement our roster of ambitious original
programming."

"We consider these
three programs creatively and qualitatively consistent
with this unique network's appeal, as well as its
already-established viewer franchise," commented Rod
Perth, president, entertainment, USA Networks.
"We're delighted to be in business with MGM, and we
firmly believe that these programs will be very
successful in assuring Sci-Fi Channel's ability to move
to the next level of growth."

"Four years ago, all
of us at MGM set out to rebuild our television business
through our commitment to quality programming. This new
agreement with the Sci-Fi Channel further validates the
inventiveness and effectiveness of our programming
model," said John P. Symes, president, MGM Worldwide
Television Group.

"Our USA Networks
agreement will create both significant returns on our
investment in the television business and lasting value
to our company's brand extension as a premium provider of
quality programming."

"Poltergeist: The
Legacy," starring Derek de Lint, Helen Shaver,
Robbie Chong, Kristin Lehman, and Martin Cummins,
revolves around an ancient and influential society called
"The Legacy." Hidden under the auspices of a
well-known philanthropic institution in San Francisco,
The Legacy is humanity's final line of defense against a
growing evil presence. "Poltergeist: The
Legacy" is produced by Trilogy Entertainment Group
and executive producers Richard B. Lewis, Pen Densham and
John Watson.

"The Outer
Limits" is an Emmy- and CableACE Award-winning
anthology series, which launched on Showtime in 1995,
picks up where the classic 1960s series of the same name
left off. Each episode is a celebration of the human
imagination where new frontiers in technology, outer
space and the human experience provoke our greatest hopes
and worst fears. Storylines have explored the
controversial and thought-provoking consequences of
topics such as genetic manipulation, time travel, alien
visitation and life after death. The series also is
produced by Trilogy Entertainment Group and executive
produced by Lewis, Densham and Watson. "Stargate
SG-1," starring Richard Dean Anderson as Air Force
Colonel Jack O'Neill, premiered on Showtime in June 1997.
In the series, the Stargate is an ancient portal that
allows instantaneous travel across the galaxy. O'Neill
and Egyptologist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) explore
the uncharted regions of the universe searching for clues
to save the Earth from destruction.

"Stargate SG-1"
is executive produced by Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright,
Michael Greenburg and Richard Dean Anderson. MGM
Worldwide Television Group handles television production
and domestic television distribution for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The Group also manages MGM Animation
in addition to all international pay- and free-television
operations, including distribution, channel ownership and
management, television program co-production, and MGM
Gold, the studio's first satellite-delivered, branded
Hollywood entertainment channel. Through MGM Worldwide
Television Group, more than 4,000 feature films and 8,200
television episodes are available to the global
television market. Its programming lineup includes
"Stargate SG-1," "The Magnificent
Seven," "The Outer Limits,"
"Poltergeist: The Legacy," "LAPD: Life on
the Beat," the animated series "All Dogs Go to
Heaven: The Series," "RoboCop: Alpha
Commando" and "The Lionhearts," as well as
miniseries and made-for-television movies such as
"12 Angry Men," "Peter Benchley's
Creature," and "The Taking of Pelham
1,2,3." The Group operates its own barter company,
MGM Advertiser Sales, and distributes its syndicated
programming through MGM Domestic Television Distribution.

Sci-Fi Channel, a division
of USA Networks, is available to 48.3 million homes and
features a mix of original and classic science-fiction,
fantasy, horror and futuristic series, movies and
specials, plus science fact programming. Sci-Fi Channel
is also available internationally in Latin America,
Brazil, Europe and the South African countries. The
Dominion, Sci-Fi Channel's Web site, is located at http://www.scifi.com . USA Networks is a diversified
media and electronic commerce company with assets that
include the following: the USA Network, the Sci-Fi
Channel; USA Networks Studios, which consists of
first~run production and distribution, TV movies and
miniseries, and network production and development; USA
Broadcasting, which includes the USA Station Group and SF
Broadcasting; Home Shopping Network; and the Internet
Shopping Network. USA also owns a controlling interest in
Ticketmaster Group Inc. and has reached an agreement to acquire the remainder of the company.